Vessel-hull scraper.



No. 877,745. PATENTED JAN. 28, 19 0s.

- .W. E. SCOTT.

VESSEL HULL SGRAPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1907.

Witnesses: Inventor,

%W' Attorneys ms NORRIS PEIEkS co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

WILLIAM EARL SCOTT, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

VESSEL-HULL SCBAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed March 29. 1907. Serial No. 365,320.

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to devices for scraping the hulls of ships.

The object of my invention is to provide a scraping device which will be resiliently held against the outer surface of the hull of a ship, and which may be adjusted longitudinally and vertically of the hull.

My invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, I have illustrated one form of embodiment of my invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the application of my invention to a characteristic form of ships hull; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the scraping device, partly broken away, and showing the arrangement of guide cables; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken transversely to show the longitudinal guide strip in section; and, Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the hull of a vessel of any type, to the bottom of which is secured the keel 1. Disposed to engage the sides of the keel 1 and to be moved longitudinally thereof, is a bifurcated guide plate 2, provided with openings 3, through which are passed guide cables 4, having their ends adjustably secured within the hull A of the vessel. Adjusting ropes 5 have their lower ends secured to the plate 2, so that the plate and the guide cables 4 may be adjusted along the bottom longitudinally of the hull A.

A. block 6 is provided with openings 7, through which are disposed the guide cables 4, so that the block is easily adjustable vertically. On its side next to the hull A,

the block is provided with friction rollers 8, to facilitate the vertical adjustment of the block and its connected parts. Carried by the block 6 are angle plates 9, on which-is journaled the rod 10. Wound about the rod 10, and having one end secured thereto and its opposite end secured to one of the plates 9, -is a coil spring 11, by means of which the rod is normally maintained in one position, so that the arm 12, which is secured to the rod 10, is normally maintained against the hull A under the tension of the spring 11, but is resiliently held to permit it to slide over projecting parts, which might break the apparatus in its operation. Carried by the free end of the arm 12 is a cross piece 13, to which are secured a plurality of spring fingers 14, having secured thereon, or formed integral therewith, scraping teeth 15. Ropes 16 have their lower ends secured to the block 6 in any suitable way, so that when the guide plate 2 is adjusted longitudinally of the hull A, the block 6 may also be adjusted longitudinally, the upper ends of the guide cables 4 being adjusted from the inside of the hull A. To provide a means for adjusting the block 6 vertically on the guide cables 4, adjusting ropes 17 are secured to the block 6, and one of them is passed through the guide late 2 and around the body of the ships hull A. Any suitable mechanism may be used for reciprocating the block 6 on the guide cables 4, such means being used in connection with the adjusting ropes 17.

In the operation of the invention, it may be attached to the hull of a vessel at its front end, and by reciprocating the block 6 vertically, a section of the hull may be cleaned by the action of the teeth 15 scra ing against the sides of the hull. The guide plate 2 carrying the cables 4 may be then adjusted longitudinally to another section of the hull, and this other section cleaned in the same way. This operation may be continued until the entire surface of the hull is cleaned. The advantage of having the arm 12 resiliently actuated against the side of the hull, is that the apparatus will not be broken should it strike a projecting part, and at the same time the scraping teeth 15 will be maintained against the side of the hull at all times. The same advantage accrues on account of the spring fingers 14.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a ship, a vertically and longitudinally adjustable block carried by the ship, bearings on the block, a rod rockably disposed in the bearings, a spring coiled on the rod and having one end secured to one of the bearings and having its 0 posite end secured to the rod, an arm secure to the rod, and scraping fingers supported by the arm.

2. In combination with a ship, a vertically and longitudinally adjustable block carried by the shi a resiliently supported arm, carried on t e block, a cross bar on the arm, resilient fingers secured on the cross bar, and scraping teeth on the fingers.

3. In combination with a shi a vertically and longitudinally adjustable block carried by the ship, a resiliently supported arm on the block, a cross bar secured to the lower end of the arm, and a plurality of resilient fingers disposed on the cross bar and provided with integral scraping teeth.

4. A device for cleaning the hulls of ships, comprising a bifurcated guide plate adapted to embrace the keel of a vessel, cables passing through said guide plate, a block adjustably mounted on said cables, a rod journaled in said block, an arm mounted on said rod, a plurality of cleaning devices on said arm and a coil spring surrounding the aforesaid rod and acting upon the same to hold the arm attached thereto and the cleaning devices connected with the arm, yieldingly,

against the surface of the hull of the vessel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto'set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM EARL SCOTT.

Witnesses O. O. OoUsINs, E. M. SLINEY. 

